Best of Three: Owen Claims New York

The airwaves were ablaze. “What kind of bullshit is Quiksilver trying to pull running a WT event in New York? “Clearly it’s not about the waves, it’s about the money.” “This contest is going to suck.” “Dream Tour my ass.” “The dream tour is over. It’s a fucking money-making tour for these companies.”

Well, let’s get one thing straight: They are a brand. A brand is technically a business and making money is a factor. Sure. But I’ve got a different take here. Quiksilver wasn’t just out for money. They spent enough in two weeks to nearly run themselves out of money (11 million +). They were out for surfing, and America, and the east coast of America, which throughout history has been looked down upon by self-righteous California surf industry dictators.

The fact that the East Coast has never had a World Tour event is a testament to that severe bias. Not even the once great Sebastian Inlet got play from the world’s best even though she more or less formed the best surfer ever.

The East Coast is very informed about these pedestal standing pricks from the west and nearly boiled over the top waiting to show what she was worthy. And show she did, peaking at the perfect time before passing out for a week.

Did Quiksilver get lucky? What are the chances they score like that again over the next two years? Has the bar set itself to high for this place?

Those are all legitimate concerns and we will see, but for now let’s just reflect on how rad a little change was in a suburb of the greatest city in the world: NYC. —Jimmicane